Video game apparatus, method and recording medium for obtaining data from a URL as random numbers

Abstract

A video game apparatus, which generates, based on data obtained by a communication part via a server on a network, game data for causing a game to proceed, includes a control part converting the data obtained from the server on the network into one of a numeric value and a character code string and changing the game data based on the one of the numeric value and the character code string.

1. A video game apparatus generating, based on data obtained by a communication part via a server on a network, game data for causing a game to proceed, the video game apparatus comprising:
 a control part determining the server based on one of a URL data item specified by a user and a randomly selected one of URL data items previously recorded in a memory, confirming whit the user whether to establish a connection with the obtained URL, converting data obtained from the server on the network into one of a numeric value and a character code string, and changing the game data at random to the game based on the one of the numeric value and the character code string, 
 wherein the control part automatically performs a processor-initiated interruption operation initiated by execution of the game data to present the randomly selected one of URL data to the user for the user's confirmation. 
 
   
   
     2. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control part converts at least one item of the data obtained from the server into the one of the numeric value and the character code string, the data including address data of the server and a URL, a file name, a file format a number of files, a file size, a total number of characters in a file, a given character or word included in a file, and a number of given characters or words included in a file of accessed data. 
   
   
     3. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further including a television unit for displaying the video game data and a user controller unit for playing the game data, the control part displays a display menu from the server on the television unit and the player controller unit permits the user to select options from the display menu. 
   
   
     4. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the game data relates to at least one of a type, an ability, an external appearance, belongings, equipment, a condition, and a number of appearances of a character appearing in the displayed video game, a background images, a color thereof, music, and sound effects, which can be selected from the display menu. 
   
   
     5. The video game apparatus as claims in  claim 3 , wherein the game data relates to a character for playing the video game, which is randomly selected by the control part and the parameters of the video game are changed based on at least one of the numeric value and character coda string. 
   
   
     6. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the user with the user controller unit has the option of confirming the random selection of a character, wherein when the character is selected, the name and date of creation of a completed character is recorded by the control part. 
   
   
     7. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data obtained from the server is one of HTML, text, image, and speech data. 
   
   
     8. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the game data relates to at least one of a type, an ability, an external appearance, belongings, equipment a condition, and a number of appearances of a character appearing in the game, a background image, a color thereof, music, and sound effects. 
   
   
     9. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the character appearing in the game is operated based on a signal input from a controller operated by a player. 
   
   
     10. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control part determines whether the one of the numeric value and the character code string is required in the game, and determines the server if the control part determines that the one of the numeric value and the character code string is required in the game. 
   
   
     11. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the control part determines at the interruption operation during the game whether the one of the numeric value and the character code string is required in the game. 
   
   
     12. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the game data obtained from the one of the numeric value and the character code string is applicable to changing parameters related to the management of events required during a game so that the contents of the game are varied to increase the difficulty level and the interest of the user without losing the game balance. 
   
   
     13. The video game apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the game data obtained from the one of the numeric value and the character code string is applicable to changing stage layouts, character speech patterns, and enemy strategies. 
   
   
     14. A method of obtaining game data for causing a game to proceed based on data obtained by a communication part via a server on a network, the method comprising the step of:
 storing a plurality of URL data items in a memory; 
 automatically performing a processor-initiated interruption operation of the game to select one of the stored URL data items and displaying the related URL data item to the user; 
 determining the server based on one of the URL data item specified by a user from the selected one of URL data items recorded in the memory; 
 converting the data obtained from the server on the network into one of a numeric value and a character code string; and 
 changing the game data at random to the game based on the one of the numeric value and the character code string, 
 wherein the data obtained from the server is data on a Web site determined by the one of a URL data item specified by a user from the URL data items recorded in the memory. 
 
   
   
     15. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said converting step converts at least one item of the data obtained from the server into the one of the numeric value and the character code string, the data including address data of the server and a URL, a file name, a file format, a number of files, a file size, a total number of characters in a file, a given character or word included in a file, and a number of given characters or words included in a file of accessed data. 
   
   
     16. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the data obtained from the server is one of HTML, text, image, and speech data. 
   
   
     17. The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the game data relates to at least one of a type, an ability, an external appearance, belongings, equipment, a condition, and a number of appearances of a character appearing in the game, a background image, a color thereof, music, and sound effects. 
   
   
     18. The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the character appearing in the game is operated based on a signal input from a controller operated by a player. 
   
   
     19. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the step of:
 storing a plurality of URL data items in a memory; 
 automatically performing a processor-initiated interruption operation of the game to select one of the stored URL data items and displaying the related URL data item to the user; 
 determining the server based on one of the URL data item specified by a user from the selected one of URL data items recorded in the memory; 
 converting the data obtained from the server on the network into one of a numeric value and a character code string; and 
 changing the game data at random to the game based on the one of the numeric value and the character code string, 
 wherein the data obtained from the server is data on a Web site determined by the one of a URL data item specified by a user from the URL data items recorded in the memory. 
 
   
   
     20. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of:
 storing a plurality of URL data items in a memory; 
 automatically performing a processor-initiated interruption operation of the game to select one of the stored URL data items and displaying the selected URL data items to the user; 
 determining a server on a network based the URL data item specified by a user from the URL data items recorded in a memory; 
 converting data obtained from the server on the network into one of a numeric value and a character code string; 
 updating a parameter for changing game data at random to the game for causing a game to proceed based on the one of the numeric value and the character code string; and 
 generating the game data based on the parameter updated. 
 
   
   
     21. A video game system comprising:
 a source of video game data; 
 an audio and image processing unit to convert the video game data into audio signals and image signals; 
 an output device to provide audio and image display from the audio signals and image signals respectively to a user; 
 a modem that connects the video game system to the Internet; 
 a memory that stores URLs entered during operation of the video game system; 
 a control part for updating parameters of game play by using numerical data generated by connection to one of the stored URLs, the control part performing an interruption operation during execution of the video game data, obtaining the URL by randomly selecting a previously entered URL from the memory, and confirming with the user whether to establish a connection with the obtained URL to download HTML data; 
 an input device that allows the user to confirm whether to establish a connection with the obtained URL; and 
 means for determining numerical data from the URL and corresponding HTML data. 
 
   
   
     22. The video game system of  claim 21  where the means for determining numerical data from the URL converts the domain name of the URL into a character code string that is then converted into the numerical data. 
   
   
     23. The video game system of  claim 21  where the means for determining numerical data from the URL captures the HTML data from the URL and converts the HTML data into the numerical data.